I Would Like to Thank the Academy (in more ways than one)

I have been fortunate to be surrounded by such a great community here in the blogsphere. I never anticipated my little blog would garner any attention at all, much less lead to my making some terrific new friends and getting to know old ones better.

It was with great surprise that I learned that I have been awarded the Thoughtful Blogger Award by both Stephanie (Stephanie's Confessions of a Book-A-Holic) and Melody (Melody's Reading Corner), both thoughtful women in their own right, who have not only been supportive and friendly, but who have created blogs that are not only entertaining, but also thought provoking and inspiring. Thank you both for this honor.

I want to pass this award on to everyone whose blogs I visit and enjoy as you all are very deserving of this award ten times over. The same goes for the Nice Matters Award. It's hard to limit a list like this, but today I feel especially inclined to offer the ward to the following:

- Nancy at Bookfoolery and Babble who, even when hot and miserable, finds humor and kindness to share with the rest of us.

- Karina at Candid Karina whose blog not only offers me food for thought, but because she has such a kind spirit that comes through with each of her blog posts.

- Laura from Musings whose reviews always entice me to add books to my wish list. She's got great taste in books and she loves animals. That says it all.

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Melody also has been kind enough to award me with the Nice Matters Award. If I could, I would turn around and give this award to her as well. Melody is one of the nicest bloggers I know. Thank you, Melody!

I bestow The Nice Matters Award to

- Heather from The Library Ladder was one of the first people who made me feel at home in the blogsphere.

- Carrie K from My Middle Name Is Patience who always takes the time to respond to each of my comments and who I secretly envy for her knitting talent.

- My friend Chris who has been my pen pal and friend for many years now and still puts up with me even when I fall unforgiveably behind in my letter writing. Chris is intelligent and a fun person. I am lucky to know her, even if only through letters and the internet.

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On a totally different note, I discovered that spoilers come in unexpected places. Unexpected, at least, for me. I was visiting one of my favorite movie sites, The Internet Movie Database, to research some of the characters from one of my favorite TV shows (The Wire), and made the mistake of looking at the dates some of major characters appear on the show. The end dates can be very revealing, let me tell you. Since I am in the middle of the third season of the show, that can be quite disconcerting.

That is not what I wanted to post about, however. In my visit to The Internet Movie Database, I discovered that one of the actors (Idris Elba) from The Wire will be in the upcoming movie, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency. What role he will be playing, I do not know, although I understand it is not one of the three main roles. Regardless, I look forward to seeing the movie as I am a fan of the popular book series that follows the life and adventures of private detective Precious Ramotswe.

Evidently the movie originally was going to be filmed in South Africa due costs, but the Botswana government took an interest in the movie as soon as they got wind of it, asking that the movie be filmed in Botswana instead. It makes perfect sense, considering the series is set in the small country. The author, Alexander McCall Smith, could not have been happier with the decision to shoot in the heart of the country he set his novels in. Great pains have been taken to ensure accuracy and authencity of the traditions and culture of Botswana, including employing many of the locals. This movie definitely will be on my must see list when it comes out next year.